U.S.: Catholics split fifty fifty between Republicans and Democrats

Early figures show that 50% of Catholics chose Obama and 48% opted for Romney. The Catholic hierarchy’s hopes of a Republican victory were dashed

alessandro specialevatican city

After an election which saw Catholic voters take sides like never before, American bishops are finding themselves having to deal with Barack Obama’s re-election to the White House. According to the bishops of Pennsylvania, one of the key U.S. states that had been split between the two parties but then won over by the Democratic candidate, Obama would lead the United States to “los[e] its soul by little steps.” In recent weeks, many representatives of the Catholic hierarchy have expressed their preference, for Mitt Romney, albeit discreetly in many cases, in letters, homilies and online messages.

Early poll figures, however, showed that in the past, U.S. Catholics listened to their bishops but then tended to follow their own conscience when voting: the majority sided with Obama although the majority was lower than four years ago. In fact, by nature of their choices, Catholics are the group that is most representative of the positions of everyone in the U.S.: just like the average American, 50% of Catholics voted for Obama and 48% for Romney.

Naturally, from a voting point of view, this fact should be read in light of one determining factor: religious practice. Catholics and Protestants who go to church every week chose Romney over Obama with a difference of 20%, whereas the Democratic candidate was 25% ahead in terms of the votes gained from individuals who practiced their faith less regularly.

The “defeat” was made all the more bitter for the Church, by the success, in many States, of the referendum on issues such as same-sex marriage, the death penalty and the use of marijuana. These are all issues which Catholics are deeply engaged in but have had little success in, despite investing large sums on money. For example, according to some sources, the well heeled Knights of Columbus, had donated at least 2 and a half million dollars for referendums in defence of marriage between man and woman, in Maine, Minnesota, Maryland and Washington, but were unsuccessful three times. One of the few positive results for the Church, was seen in Massachusetts, where the attempt to introduce assisted suicide failed.

In their initial comments on the electoral result, top representatives of the U.S. Catholic Church tried to appear conciliatory, faced with Obama’s return to the White House after a clear but not landslide electoral victory. The President of the U.S Bishops’ Conference, the Cardinal of New York, Timothy Dolan, congratulated Obama, assuring him his prayers and support, in light of the “difficult challenges that face America”: "In particular, we pray that you will exercise your office to pursue the common good, especially in care of the most vulnerable among us, including the unborn, the poor, and the immigrant. We will continue to stand in defence of life, marriage, and our first, most cherished liberty, religious freedom,” Dolan wrote, referring to the issues over which the Church and Obama’s government differ.

But Dolan also expressed a willingness to tone down tensions, praying that Obama “will help restore a sense of civility to the public order, so our public conversations may be imbued with respect and charity toward everyone." Similarly, the U.S. bishops’ spokeswoman, Mary Ann Walsh wrote a statement in her blog saying: “With the election over, it’s time for the nation to retake its noble position as the home of the brave. Certainly the next four years will mark a critical time for our nation, an opportunity to show our better selves after unprecedented political rancour.”

Pope Benedict XVI sent a message to President Obama from Rome, congratulating him on his victory. “In his message - the Vatican’s spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi stated - the Holy Father expresses his best wishes to the president on his new mandate, and gives assurances of his prayers to God to help him carry out his serious responsibilities, both in his own country and within the international community. The Pope also speaks of his hope that the ideals of freedom and justice, which guided the founding fathers of the Unites States of America, may continue to shine out as the nation progresses.”

As he answered journalists’ questions, Lombardi added that the Vatican’s hope was that Obama would “respond to his fellow citizens' expectations, serving law and justice for the good and development of all people, and respecting essential human and spiritual values while promoting a culture of life and religious freedom which has always been so important to the American people and an integral part of their culture. May the President find the best ways to promote the material and spiritual wellbeing of all people and may he efficiently promote integral human development, justice and peace in the world.”

Despite the conciliatory morning-after tone, the election night was a “bitter night for America’s Catholic leaders,” said Massimo Faggioli, professor at Thomas University, in Minnesota and an U.S. Catholicism expert. “Obama’s re-election - he told Vatican Insider - defies both the explicit electoral messages sent by numerous individual bishops and the campaign launched by U.S. bishops against the White House and the healthcare system reform. Bishops judged the latter to constitute a threat to religious freedom. Voters did not agree with this choice and Catholics are split over it.”

“Bishops did not seize the Catholic moment in American politics and saw Obama’s victory as an attack on the religious freedom of bishops to teach morality.” This is despite the fact that according to Faggioli, “points of compatibility between Obama-centrism and Catholic social tradition do exist.” But on one condition: “Do not expect political powers to pass legislation in defence of moral teachings on sexuality. This must stop being seen as an ideal and room needs to be left for compromise.”